COUNTRY NEWS

Dominion, 14 August 1919, Page 8

COUNTRY NEWS

NOTES FROM VARIOUS

CENTRES (From Our fiDecial Oorreßoondeate.) WAIRARAPA Mr. J. Boyle- has purchased Mr. G. A. Cameron's property at Gladstone. Tho Koniui cheese factory commenced operations lor tho season last Monday. At a special meeting of the Maslerton County Council it was decided to divide tho Waiuuioru Hiding in two, tho northern portion to bo known as Uruti Kiding and the southern portion as "Wainuiora Riding. The Hepatization Department lias written to tlie Wairarapu banners' Union asking its co-operation in the placing of returned soldiers as trainees on stations and farms. Tho union has consented to do ovorything possible. At Gladstono on Monday evening, Mr. D. Hobentou gavo an interesting leeturo to members of the local branch of the Farmers' Union on phases of Indian lifo and agriculture. The lecture was illustrated by appropriate lantern slides. Viows wero also shown of the results of fertiliser trials on various crops grown on private and experimental farms, mid Mr. C. A. Gumming gave a short explanation, illustrated by experiments, of the manner iinwhich soil material was rendered available to plants. This was the second lecture given by the branch, and judging by the discussion which followed and tho questions asked farmers aro appreciating . tho value of such instructive demonstrations. A desire was expressed that the meetings 'shall bo continued, and with the cooperation of the Agriculture Department in -lending elides illustrating work on experimental farms it is hoped that some real benefit may aceruo to farmers. At a meeting of the Waimrapa Presbytery, held in Masterton on Monday, it was decided by a votes to !» not to favour the proposed church union. The Masterton County Council subscribes =CG93 Is. annually to the National Provident Fund as an insurance on its twenty employees, vvho thereby become eligible for a retiring allowance, materuitv bonus, etc. The higher annual contribution is £22 Ss.. aud the lowest £6, Tho money i<s deducted from tho men s wages, but if they desiro to withdraw their contributions they may do so after a period of twelve mouths on leaving the council's employ. Mr. H. 'K. Moore left Masterton yesterday to take up tho position of postmaster at Eketahinia. Tho Eov Thomas Halliday, of Lansdowno has received a unanimous rail from the congregation of Boston Presbyterian Church. Mr. Halliday has a fortnight in which to decide whether ho will leave Masterton. Mr. D. Green, of Maryborough, hna sold his property of 100 acres at MarBriboroiigh to Mr. W. H. Coriield. On Tuesday ovening threo largo motor, lorries'coin-eyed the. directors, members of the ladies' committee, orchestra, pipers and dancers of the Wairarapa, Caledonian Society from Masterton to Mauricevillo, the occasion being the celebration of the birthday of duet Robert Cameron. The lunchon took tho form of a Scottish ingloside held in the local hall which had been tastefully, decorated. Tim usual Scottish pastimes woro indulged in, and supper was served. On bohnlf of tho society Mr. Gamoron was presented with a gold-mounted mpo, made of Now Zealand wood, and from invenilo members ho received a tobacco pouch, suitably engraved.

MANAWATU

. After more or less broken weather for Hie past month, with cold winds and occasional touches of frost, yesterday was more like summer, and if such weather continues the grass will soon begin to grow Peed has been very scarco m the district, nnd the chaiigo will 'be welcome to farmers and graziers. Por some time fat stock has been scarco in tho Afonawatu, nnd in e'omo cases butchers had to resort to fro/.en moat. The position has been accentuated by the curtailment of the railway traffic: Littlo improvement is likely for some considerable time. Following on a largo meeting held at Marton last week to consider the question of tho scarcity of insulated tonnago to. take away frozen meat, a deputation has been arranged to wait on Ministers next Friday. Tho sub-provincial Wellington branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union will hold a special meeting at Palmorston on August 21 to receive tlio 'report of. delegates and consider what further action is to bn taken. Messrs. M. Newman, W. H; Field, and Nash, M.P.'s, have been invited to be present. Motorists complain bitterly of the state of the roads between Wellington and Palmerston. Now that goods between these two places are carried by big motor lorries the roads are being cut up to such nn extent that in places they nro almost impassable. With the wet weather experienced lately, the County Councils find it impossible to keep tho surfaces in anything like good condition, but matters.will probably improve to a certain oxteut with the approach of spring. During the railway curtailment tho Danuervirko Chamber-of Commerce decided to request that all goods from Wellington for that place should be railed by way of Hanavratti, n.? the only alternato service was via Wairurapa.

The newly-formed railway goods transport committee met yesterday for the first time, in conjunction with ueprosentatjves of the Railway Department, to consider applications for the transport of goods. Quite a number of applications were , dealt with. In several cases applicants were .only allotted portion of the space applied 'for, and it is evident lliat for some little time to come the traffic will be restricted to carrying absolutely essential goods. As it is npccss.iry for two members of the committee to be in attendanco all day, it ha 6 bi'en found necessary to increase Hio number, and the Chamber of Commerce will meet to-4ay to make further appointments.

Draft plans for the subdivision of the Cloverlea Settlement, recently acquired from tho Buick Estate for soldiers' settleniont, have now been completed, and only await tho approval of the authorities, Tho property is divided into nineteen sections, and twelve range from i to 5 acres. Six of these front tho Kaironga line, and tho other six are directly behind them.' Tho back portion of the settlement is cut into seven blocks, ranging from 22 to 32 acres. Two sections at the 'back, through which Whisky Creek runs, ami which are liable to floods, have beia so sudivided that cacli will have a pieco of land'on the side of tho creek always dry, so in case of (loodinjj the occupants' can. reraovo their stock to dry land.

On Monday, evening the Foxton police received advice that a- Chinaman - employed in tho gardens at Himatangi had been assaulted by two persons "who were found stealing vegetables from the gardons. The police found the Chinaman in a fiemi-coiiscibiw slate, showing evidenco of'having been badly knocked ;ibnut. IT" had an ugly cut across tlio liead, and v/as also bruised in other places, ond liad lost n good deal of blood, i'rom the story told by other Chinamen, it is alleged that two men in a gig on the way from Foxton pulled up opposite the gardens and left: the gig on tne side of thn road and went into the garden and started collecting a supply of vegetables. One of tho Chinamen noticed what was going on, and, armed with a pitchfork, rushed across to save- tho vegetables. Thci intruders immediately made oft", endeavouring to get away in the gig, but Hie Chinaman prevented this by threatening them with the pitchfork, as' he desired to ascertain their identity. In a struggle, it is alleged that oim of the men atriK-k the Chinaman over tho head with some heavy object, inflicting a nasty wound. Tt is also alleged thul; the Chinaman was struck by stones thrown at him by thn inti'udors. Tho Chinaman wis rendered unconscious. Whilst tho struggle wns proceeding another Cliinaman caino on the scene- and jumped into tho gig and drovo it along tho road, and into their yard. Thoro tho horso was unharnessed and the harness locked inside the building. Tho two men proceeded to the Chinamen's yard to get jwsscwion of tho 'big, out found the Chinaman on guard tinner' with a loaded gun, and he kept them at bay. The men were.informed that the police had been sent for, and Unit they could not get possession of tho horse anil gig until the polico arrived. The sequel will he heard at the next sittings of tho Mngietrato's Court locally, when tho two men will be called upon to answer charges of alleged theft and assault.